Petunia plant named ‘KLEPH17300’

ABSTRACT

A new Petunia plant particularly distinguished by large, purple flowers and a trailing habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Petunia hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEPH17300’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of EuropeanCommunity Plant Variety Rights application filed on Mar. 13, 2018, FileNo. 2018/0754, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference for all purposes.

‘KLEPH17008’ has not been made publicly available for more than one yearprior to the effective filing date of the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Petunia,botanically known as Petunia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLEPH17300’. ‘KLEPH17300’ originated from across-pollination conducted in July 2012 in Latina, Italy between thefemale Petunia variety, ‘Duesurmar’, also commercially known as SURPRISE‘Marine’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,673) and the male Petunia variety VIVA‘Blue Ocean’ (patent status unknown).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown in a greenhousefor evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEPH17300’ wasselected from the group of plants in April 2013 in Latina, Italy. In May2013, ‘KLEPH17300’ was first vegetatively propagated by terminal tipcuttings in Latina, Italy. ‘KLEPH17300’ was found to reproduce true totype in successive generations of asexual propagation via tissue cultureand terminal tip cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany and Latina, Italy.

-   -   1. Large, purple flowers; and    -   2. A trailing habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph ofa plant grown in a plastic greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany. Thephotograph was taken in May 2016 and shows the foliage and flowers of a12-week-old plant grown in a pot. The colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEPH17300’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inLatina, Italy. Data was collected on plants grown 16-weeks fromcultivation from potting in a plastic greenhouse in Latina, Italy inApril 2018. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.        -   Botanical.—Petunia hybrida.        -   Common.—Petunia.        -   Designation.—‘KLEPH17300’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The female Petunia variety, ‘Duesurmar’, also            commercially known as SURPRISE ‘Marine’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.            21,673).        -   Male parent.—The male Petunia variety VIVA ‘Blue Ocean’            (patent status unknown).-   Plant:    -   -   Vigor.—Medium-high vigor.        -   Habit.—Trailing.        -   Height (from top of soil).—10.0 cm to 12.0 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—22.0 cm for the plant            body; 52.0 cm to 60.0 cm including the flowering stems.        -   Propagation.—Terminal tip cuttings and tissue culture.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 2 weeks.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—2 to 3 weeks.        -   Root description.—Moderate density, moderate branching,            white roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Average number (basal).—11.        -   Length of basal branches (from the base of the stem to the            tip).—30.0 cm to 38.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—2.5 cm to 5.0 cm.        -   Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—0.4 cm.        -   Stem color.—RHS 144D.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Length.—7.5 cm.        -   Width.—3.3 cm to 5.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Broad acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 137C. Lower surface:            RHS 138B.        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137C. Lower surface:            RHS 138B.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Arcuate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 144B. Lower surface: RHS            144B.        -   Petioles.—Length: 0.4 cm. Diameter: 0.4 cm. Color: Between            RHS 144C and RHS 144D. Texture: Pubescent.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Irregular oblong.        -   Length.—2.5 cm to 5.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm to 0.8 cm.        -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 90A more towards the tip of the bud            and RHS 90B towards the base of the bud.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously flowering            during spring and summer.        -   Inflorescence type.—Sympodial, with monochasial growth.        -   Number of flowers per node.—1.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—7 to 10 days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flowers.—Arrangement: Composed of 5 petals fused at the            base. Diameter (flower face): 7.4 cm. Depth (total length of            flower): 7.0 cm. Throat/Funnel: Length: 4.0 cm. Diameter (at            opening): 1.4 cm. Texture: Inner surface: Smooth. Outer            surface: Pubescent. Color: Inner surface: RHS N92A. Outer            surface: RHS 79B from the margin of the petal to RHS 79D            towards the base of the petal and RHS 79A veins. Petals:            Color of petals, mature flower (fully opened): Upper            surface: Between RHS N89A and RHS N88A. Lower surface: RHS            N88B. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Fused. Shape: Funnelform. Margin:            Entire. Strength of waviness: Weak. Degree of lobation:            Weak. Calyx arrangement: Actinomorphic, composed of 5            sepals. Sepals: Color: Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower            surface: RHS 138A. Length: 1.2 cm to 1.5 cm. Width: 0.4 cm.            Shape: Oblong. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Fused. Margin:            Entire. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Pubescent.        -   Pedicels.—Color: RHS 144A. Length: 4.0 cm to 7.0 cm.            Diameter: 0.2 cm. Texture: Pubescent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Needle with elliptic head.            Filament: Length: 1.2 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: 0.05 cm.            Color: RHS 145D. Anther: Shape: Oblong. Color: RHS N187C.            Length: 0.1 cm. Diameter: 0.12 cm. Pollen: Color: RHS 91A.            Amount: Moderate.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1. Length: 3.0 cm. Stigma            color: RHS N186A. Style color: RHS 145A.-   Fruit and seed set: No fruit and seed set observed.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect    resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEPH17300’ is a distinct variety of Petunia and is distinguished fromits parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Male Parent Female Parent VIVA‘Blue Characteristic ‘KLEPH17300’ ‘Duesurmar’ Ocean’ Petal lobe colorUpper surface: Upper surface: fully opened Between RHS Close to RHS N89A and 88A; venation RHS N 88A RHS 187A Lower surface: Lower surface:RHS N88B Close to RHS 87A, venation RHS 187A Inner surface: Close to RHSN92A RHS 79A; venation RHS 187A Flower throat Outer surface: color fullyRHS 79B to opened RHS 79D with RHS 79A (veins) Flower size Big flowersSmaller flowers Plant habit Trailing Upright and mounding

‘KLEPH17300’ is a distinct variety of Petunia and differences between‘KLEPH17300’ and the commercial variety ‘Sunsurfviomi’ (unpatented) aredescribed in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEPH17300’‘Sunsurfviomi’ Flower size Bigger flowers than Smaller flowers than‘Sunsurfviomi’ ‘KLEPH17300’

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Petunia plant designated‘KLEPH17300’ as illustrated and described herein.